In an ice filled shaker add Domaine De Canton, Fernet Branca and lemon juice. Shake hardily. Pour into a tall ice filled glass and top with the ginger beer or club soda. Garnish with lemon or a fresh mint sprig.

*Play with the measure of Fernet, just a bit will add a lot of flavor to a cocktail.

As cocktail enthusiasts you should know by now that writing and research is just an excuse for us to drink and try new cocktails, but like everyone else, the morning after can be tough. While the “hair of the dog” for many people consists of a Bloody Mary or Mimosa, we swear by a combination of the following two ingredients; Fernet Branca and ginger.

Like most cordials, Fernet was originally concocted for medicinal purposes. The combination of headache curing and stomach settling herbs include anise, camomile, cardamom, rhubarb, myrrh and eucalyptus.

It’s no secret that the other component, ginger, is traditionally used for all types of ailments as well. This is where our family differs the most; whether it is Domaine De Canton, ginger ale, ginger syrup or fresh ginger we all agree that the combination of Fernet and ginger is the best remedy for a hangover.

I am pretty sure that if you live in Georgia…you already know this, but in case you don’t…today was gorgeous. Right now my weather station says 79 degrees and 46% humidity. That weather is Denver-like.

My friend Jessica hooked me up with a whiskey that you can’t find yet in Georgia. Everyone on the internetwas raving about TX Blend. Now I have a bottle. I will give you some tasting notes when I crack it open.

I have not written on this page in a long time. I think if Lindsey can get her blog on … then I can definitely get back in the saddle. She is doing a great job. Posting about my severe toe injury and the odyssey of the file cabinet. I am writing this tonight as I slowly sip aBufflalo Trace and Cointreau Manhattan.1 dash Angosutra Bitters
1 dash Cointreau
2 oz Buffalo Trace
1 oz Carpano Antica sweet vermouth

Oleo Saccharum – Fancy way of saying lemon peel and sugar

I have upped the game in my cocktail making lately. I have made a ton of infused simple syrups. I also tried my hand at Oleo Saccharum. The verdict is out…but I am pretty sure I will make it again.

We made the plunge and got a kamado grill. Hopefully it will be here this week. I can’t wait to break out some pork shoulder, and all the other fun things you can do with a cooker and a smoker. I have heard great things about the Visions. I am pretty sure I will be happy with it in the long run. I just could not justify the price of a Big Green Egg. I am pretty excited about cooking on it.

The Grantland column said that the SEC Championship was a chance for the (paraphrasing here) University of Georgia to change the narrative…and reframe what many people say about the Dawgs (pretenders, perennial bridesmaids, can’t get it done). I think at the end of four quarters the Bulldogs proved that they did indeed deserve to be on the stage with the Crimson Tide.

Now, shore up that running D. Stop giving up those big yards off tackle. Replace some key losses and get back to the game again. Important to note here that just playing close in the SEC Championship game is a big improvement over some of their past efforts. You did yourself proud on a national stage.

Looking forward to seeing you next year in the real Death Valley. If not before then in Atlanta.

So I realized tonight that my Facebook posting rules so some of you might not be up to date on what has been happening. We had to go to the vet and have Hugo put down this morning. It was a tough couple of days for the family, and I am not even sure that Sarah Kate has figured out what happened yet. We are going to wait for her to ask before we have a talk about it with her.

Hugo was my best friend for 13 years. I will miss him terribly.
I wrote some things down earlier this week that I wanted to share about him.

To the best cat to ever utter a meow:

There are so many things that I can say about you.

You have been my best friend for almost as long as I can remember. From the day you showed up on my doorstep in LaGrange…we have been partners. Sitting in the north facing window (looking to your Canadian homeland), chattering at the various birds and squirrels that dared to cross your path, answering my whistle. (It will always be the Hugo whistle to this family), busting in like the Kool-Aid man to get your water from the shower. You loved to spend time in the sun, just lounging…but always quick to answer with a meow if I called your name.

You graciously allowed Frankie to join us when Linds moved in. You (begrudgingly) gradually came to know Lidsey as Mom.

Hugo did not like when Mom watched Glee.

I remember the time that I totally freaked out on a pizza man…because you escaped from the apartment. Luckily…you hadn’t gone far, and I corralled you back inside.

I think you spent most every night for the last 12 years sleeping between my legs, or at the foot of the bed. You were also pretty cool when we brought home a baby. Sometimes you even let Sarah Kate pull your tail without popping her in the head.

I am writing this while you are still around. I don’t want to try and remember these things after you are gone. My real hope is that I made your life maybe even half as awesome as you made mine.

I am not sure that I could have ever ordered a better cat. You did a great job finding me. I will miss you terribly. There will be a real void in my life without you around. I know there is a great debate about animals and heaven. But honestly if you are not waiting for me at the rainbow bridge…then I am not sure heaven will be what I expect it to be.

If you are bothering to read this post, than you probably already know just how much I love racing.
In case you ever wanted to know why…I would just point you to this video.
You probably won’t watch all 16 minutes of it, but then again…you might just find out that you just can’t stop watching.

I have some cool things to share. Hope everyone had a nice and relaxing Independence Day week. Time to get back at it at the office. Definitely hard to believe we have hit the mid-point of summer (and the year for that matter).

I could not go without mentiong how dissappointed I was to learn about the drug-related suspension of NASCAR’s A.J. Allmendinger. If it wasn’t a false positive, then I hope that A.J. can get his stuff together. There is no doubt that he is talented.

And congrats to Kevin and DeLana Harvick on the birth of their son…if you read his statement, you realize that despite his reputation…he really is a pretty good guy.

”Waiting on Keelan was the longest nine months of my entire life,” Kevin Harvick said in a statement. ”But time literally stood still when I held our baby for the first time. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life that I’m proud of, but those moments don’t hold a candle to becoming a father and seeing that little face looking up at you.

”DeLana and I are just amazed by how special and rewarding this is.”

This should do it for this week. Trying to get back into a regular posting habit. I got some good fishing stuff saved up to share. This was just more of a post about drinking.